98%
921
2 minutes
20
The geometric shape and programming of mesogen alignment are two critical prerequisites for the effective actuation of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuators. However, existing alignment programming approaches inevitably impose limitations on the geometric design of LCEs. In this study, we introduce a controlled radical diffusion mechanism that enables geometrically insensitive programming of actuation. Our findings show that LCEs can be deformed into complex structures via soft-elasticity and achieve the required mesogen alignment by simply soaking the LCE in an aqueous solvent of a free-radical initiator. The process requires no external assistance (maintained force, fixture, heating, or light) and the omnidirectional radicals' diffusion enables precise implementation of actuation across arbitrary geometries, including those produced through 3D printing, molding, embossing, and origami techniques. This "deform-and-go" strategy allows for scalable and versatile fabrication of advanced LCE actuators, representing a significant advancement in soft robotics engineering.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12354880 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62883-8 | DOI Listing |
Biophys J
August 2025
Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address:
Collective cell migration is prevalent in the processes of embryo development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis across various space and time scales. Although various motion modes have been identified, their relationships with single-cell motility and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we develop an active vertex model to investigate the spatiotemporal behavior of collective cells confined in annulus domain, accounting for the polarity memory effect of individual cells and the impact of confinement size.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
August 2025
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
The geometric shape and programming of mesogen alignment are two critical prerequisites for the effective actuation of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuators. However, existing alignment programming approaches inevitably impose limitations on the geometric design of LCEs. In this study, we introduce a controlled radical diffusion mechanism that enables geometrically insensitive programming of actuation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
July 2025
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia.
Background: The dynamics of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) remain poorly described in the general population owing to the unavailability of widely accepted cutoffs to define abnormal levels and insensitivity of dichotomized ALT values.
Methods: With data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 (n = 11 854), 1999-2004 (12 280), 2005-2010 (14 204), 2011-2016 (14 145), and 2017-2020 (7047), we examined the age- and sex-standardized distribution of log-transformed serum ALT and tested the elevated ALT prevalence trend among American adults aged 19 years and older.
Results: The ALT geometric mean increased from 15.
Sensors (Basel)
August 2025
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China.
Automated surface defect detection in steel manufacturing is pivotal for ensuring product quality, yet it remains an open challenge owing to the extreme heterogeneity of defect morphologies-ranging from hairline cracks and microscopic pores to elongated scratches and shallow dents. Existing approaches, whether classical vision pipelines or recent deep-learning paradigms, struggle to simultaneously satisfy the stringent demands of industrial scenarios: high accuracy on sub-millimeter flaws, insensitivity to texture-rich backgrounds, and real-time throughput on resource-constrained hardware. Although contemporary detectors have narrowed the gap, they still exhibit pronounced sensitivity-robustness trade-offs, particularly in the presence of scale-varying defects and cluttered surfaces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe traditional design of terahertz metasurface absorbers requires software for device modeling, simulation analysis, and parameter optimization, which is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this paper, we use deep learning methods to design an ultra-wideband terahertz metasurface absorber, which has a terahertz wave absorption over 90% in the frequency range of 6.31-16.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF